Assistance dog in Training
Good morning Sonia
I just thought I would update you on our pup. Puppy and handler (names changed) have been working incredibly well with each other! Puppy graduated from Puppy Preschool a week early so that they could start their obedience training together, the trainers have all been amazed at the behaviour and bond between Puppy and Handler, his breeding and early training has really shone through. Puppy received his assistance dog training vest on Monday and we are hoping will do his first assessment in just a few months. Everyone who comes across him is amazed that he is only 4months.
Thanks
C.A.
Meeghan and Bowie
“He is super confident and exploring our garden.
He’s already sitting in on some of my counselling sessions and making a lovely impact..
Look forward to chatting tomorrow evening via zoom.
Warm Regards
Meeghan and Bowie”
Bowie is from Ember, one of our therapy bloodline girls, and by Tuxedo.
Sunny - living the good life.
I thought you would appreciate some more updates on "Sunny"...
Sunny has just over 3 acres around the house to roam about freely with his buddy Ruby the Rottweiler! They play endless chasey games followed by long naps to recover.
Sunny also LOVES water! Anything with water in it he will try to get into... puddles, dams, birdbaths, horse water trough... he even stamps out his water bowls... so we have to fill up a few of them in different spots!
The best thing about him though is that he LOVES cuddles! He would be happy being patted all day long... he follows me everywhere and sits under my feet any time that I am working at my desk. At the same time he is not anxious at all and is independent. For example, he is happy for me to leave the room (even in unfamiliar places) and come back to him in half an hour without crying for me or showing any signs of anxiety... he just occasionally keeps his eye on the door that I left from
All in all, he's the perfect fit for our family ... my only regret is his beautiful cream colour which is covered in mud most days until he dries off in the afternoon! A chocolate one would have been better for the farm...ha ha ... I have to wash him before each work visit! Anyway, maybe he will get less dirty as he gets older and less interested in puddles, water, digging and rolling in horse poo!
Thanks again for our beautiful Sunny boy! He is super loving and intune with us. We love him so much! 💕
Kind Regards
Maja
Amanda and Penny have one of Bella and Tuxedo’s pups.
Our puppy has settled in very well, and he slept through the whole night on his second night with us. (not every night since has been quite as perfect, but still good)
He is eating well, active and obedient and sleeps. He has met many of our friends, as well as a few puppy friends too.
We are thoroughly enjoying our new bundle Zuko. Puppy time has been exciting and demanding. We are still madly reading and practicing.
We plan to be at puppy school next week.
I have also made contact with Lance Hayden and he will look after Zuko next week ( immunisation) and at 5months ( desexing)
Thank you so much for extending your family to us.
kind regards,
Amanda and Penny
Maggie
Hi Sonia
We’ve had Maggie for a year now and all adore her. She was such a great companion for Anna while she was homeschooling last term, I don’t think we would have survived so well with out her. Thanks again for letting us purchase her she is a wonderful and much loved member of our family.
Lola - Guardian Girl
Lola is very cuddly, gentle and loving. The boys were over the moon and emotional when we surprised them with her.
She has settled in very well and there haven’t been any sooking or barking of a night and she stays in her pen.
Toilet training has been going quite well although there has been a couple accidents.
She is very intuitive and loves toys and going for little walks with the boys. Loved being brushed and is getting used to her name.
We are so happy to have her.Thanks to Sonia and family for allowing us to adopt Lola.
Adam and Monique
Truffles x Tuxedo girl
Oh my gosh, Sonia and Max,
This dog is AMAZING.
Slept more than half the journey home and was calm the whole way. All toileting on grass - no accidents. Eating well & happily and starting to explore. Enjoying cuddles and has been sitting and waiting calmly for food.
Thank you so much
Jacqui, Daniel & Finn
Ryder
Ryder has settled well (he did have a couple of sleepless first nights though) and is much loved and beautifully cared for by his family. He has been getting some socialising and lots of attention at Bunnings in the trolly, and has been showing his intelligence at puppy training.
Shadow
Shadow is settling in unbelievably well, and after only three days. He is adorable, gorgeous, very food focussed, already knows his name and has slept very well so far. He is getting attached to each family member but especially to me and my son - more photos to come! I’ll be starting puppy training with my assistance dog trainer very soon so he’s trained the right way from the very beginning. I’ll keep you posted and I look forward to the day we visit your place with a fully accredited Shadow. Our new vet here was very impressed with his health and very very impressed with his temperament. He has experience with assistance dogs so he’ll be a great support. Better get back to it as he wants his lunch (and is trying to chew my chair!). Thank you for the most amazing gift! I hope you can find your Ciderfield’s pup soon!
Michelle from Sydney
Boucles
I just thought I would write with a few quick pics of our dog. He is a member of the family, fondly known as Swampdog because of his love for rain and puddles.
He is strong, healthy and loving. All the things we hoped for!
Do you have a website I can refer people to, we are often asked by people thinking about a dog like Boucles.
He had his first professional clip a week ago, and this pic was taken tonight, when once again he had stolen my seat and gone to sleep. The hairy pic is from about 2 weeks ago.
Thanks again, we love him!
-Chelsea
(Photo at 5 weeks old)
Maui
Thought you might like these pics of the love between our youngest and Maui...he’s a very good boy and loves exploring the gardens outside.
-Angela
He has such a soft fluffy coat! And the most beautiful red tones which have developed more. He has been jumping around in the rain and is nice and muddy this morning.
-Mel
Buddy
Thank you so much for giving our family such a beautiful pup. He is a delight and has a very easy temperament. My kids named him Buddy, which fits him perfectly as he is so fond of the three of them and they are of him.
-Rachel
Daisy
"Daisy is just a joy to have in my life. Perfect temperament, loves meeting new people, easy to train. Content sleeping at your feet or with hectic play as long as it's by your side. Her coat is surprisingly low maintenance and doesn't shed. All of these things point to a good breeder. Sonia from Cider Fields has held my hand every step of the way from advising on the raw diet (which is working a treat so far) to training to care and it's a relief knowing she's only a text message away. Using Jet Pets to transport the puppy from QLD to Geelong was a breeze and completely on schedule with Daisy arriving happy and healthy. These companions are going to be by your side more than a spouse or child and if you're investing in a labradoodle it's worth going with a reputable trusted breeder like Cider Fields. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these guys. "
-Asher
Elle
Hi Sonia
Just another quick update, Elle is now 4 months old. She is a lovely pup with a beautiful nature. She has settled into our house extremely well and is just like you said she would be, very intuitive.
As you know I wanted a pup for Zoe who has ASD and other issues and Elle has surpassed my expectations.
She is gentle with Zoe, is really fast on the uptake with her basic obedience training thus far and has slept through the night from the first day we got her.
Our vet has remarked how settled and stable she is even at 10 weeks, she said that she was a very steady pup. All health checks thus far have been perfect!
I do also really love feeding her the raw diet that you recommended, she never has bad breath, and no tummy upsets.
Looking forward to sending you the next update she is growing so fast :)
Steph
Hi Sonia, how are you ? thought it was about time I send you an update pictures of Emma, she is around 9 months old now.
Still the most amazing dog ever, she fits in with us sooo well, loves everybody and is happy playing or snuggling still.
I took these today of her, but will take some more soon.
I have people asking me where we got her as they would like one like her later too lol.
Hope all is well with you.
We cant say enough on the difference she has made to our lives. My husband loves to cuddle on the couch with her at night and she is always ready for a cuddle or a play. Really amazed at how she is happy to full on play or just chill out with us.
She was swimming at the beach the other day. We have had people wanting to know where she came from as they loved her so much. She is very intuned to us and has so much personality. we just love her to bits.
Thanks so much for letting her come to us !
Take care again !
Dineke
Emma
Tilly
Hi Sonia, I hope all is well with you. Thought I would send a picture of Tilly so you could see how she has grown up. She is a beautiful dog and has fitted so well into our Family, Leigh and I love her to bits.
Nearly 8 months old now and going beautifully, easy to train, loves her walks on the beach and is socially great with other dogs and people.
We get stopped and told by so many people saying what a gorgeous
looking dog she is.
Thanks so much,
Karen
Rosie
Rosie (Below with Eva) stayed with us for a few weeks, providing wonderful times playing and helping us care for our furry kids. Thank you Rosie! I’ve had such a brilliant week helping at Cider Fields. I came here to spend some quality time with the dogs and help with their care, and what a lucky bunch they are to live here. They all get tonnes of love from Sonia & Max and volunteers like myself so socialisation is a guarantee for each dog, and coming from a background in veterinary and having studied animal behaviour it’s clear to me how happy and healthy both parents and puppies are. There are wonderful plans for Cider Fields and I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with the exciting times ahead here! Thank you guys for allowing me to spend time with such loving dogs and wishing all the best for their future families :) Rosie (Backpacking in Australia from the Isle of Man)
Milo’s Story... When the unplanned happens
As with humans, once in a blue moon, something completely unexpected happens. When I first started with breeding, my mentor asked me how I would handle problems that were unforeseen, and unable to be prevented by management or care. I remember saying that it would be supportive and do the best by the pup and owner. One of the many DNA tests that are run are for genes for epilepsy, and our dogs are negative for those. However, there are many forms of seizures, and some have an unknown trigger or cause. Milo started having seizures a few weeks after he went to his new home. I was devastated. The last thing you want for dog or owner. I tried to keep my rational hat on, and thought that it may be best to either refund, or change him for another pup, and let him live out his life with us on suggested meds. I didn’t want to cause any headaches for Candice. She was wonderful, and I knew the ultimate decision had to be hers, so just laid out that we were here for her, whatever she decided. As Milo was perfect in every way as a companion and loving pup, they decided to keep him. Here is Milo and Candice’s story. May all our owners be as loving and embracing to their dogs as you are, and I look forward to meeting you both, and hopefully Milo will be fit and well soon.
Hi this is Milo (Below), we brought him from Sonia at Cider Fields labradoodles. I am a single mother and my son is a only child so he needed a best friend. We did not rush into buying a dog. We spoke with our family and made sure we did our research to find someone that would best suit our family.
Sonia was so caring and wanted to know what I was looking for and what our family was like. I went in thinking I was getting a red or brown labradoodle but what Sonia did was teach me that I am looking for a family member not a new colour, she didn't just want to sell me any dog. She felt Milo would be the best fit for our family due to us having anxiety issues and Milo being so cool and calm.
We waited with excitement until the day Milo arrived. We couldn't stop thinking about him and weather or not he would love us. Milo was a delight the moment we picked him up from the airport. He was everything Sonia said he would be beautiful, cool and calm. He just was the perfect fit.
Unfortunately not long after settling in, Milo got sick. Milo has a non-genetic disorder that causes him to have fits/abnormal body movements. We had many vet appointments and never once did Sonia make us feel as though we were on our own. I called her for advice and what to do and not do. It was a very distressing time for our family with a new puppy, vet appointments and just wanting him to be well. This is at no fault of Milo's parents or breeding conditions. This is one of those unlucky things that picked our dog and our family.
Sonia did not hesitate she offered us all the support, it was outside of contract conditions and Sonia gave us a full refund. I honestly do not know what we would have done without her with us very step of the way. Milo is now medicated three times a day and we are hoping he might grow out of this condition but if he doesn't he has a forever family even if he doesn't feel well - someone to read him books, have mid day naps in mums bed when she is busy doing house work, cuddles before school and lots of park runs and bike rides.
Thank you so much Sonia for everything you have done for our family. Although it was not a ideal situation for any of us, you made it so much more easier and less stressful. I don't think we would have got through those first few weeks without you.
Kind regards,
The Burns/Wardrop Family.
Sadie
I just wanted to send a few photos of Sadie and keep you updated. She loves the water, and thoroughly enjoys when I have a shower, often ending in a very wet face. Super loyal, loving play but also her quite time on Mum. She is almost finished her puppy preschool training and is doing really well. We are also looking into her next training for a therapy dog here at school. I was just wondering if you have any information regarding therapy dogs or any contacts?
Thank you for raising such an incredible pupper!
Kind regards,
Emileigh & Christopher
Ailsa and Sunny
We couldn't be more thrilled with our pup Sunny. She is a sweet, fun and smart dog. She has a fabulous temperament and really loves playing with our kids and their friends, who are all under 8-years of age. Sunny has done a great job of picking up the basics at training and we have great confidence in her behaviour both at home and out and about. She loves going for walks and is wonderful with other dogs and is becoming well known in our neighborhood. She regularly gets comments on how lovely she looks - we call her our real life teddy bear.
Cheers
Ailsa
Milo’s Beef and Broccoli birthday cake
We loved this photo and seeing Milo enjoy his birthday in such style.
Hi Sonia, apologies for my delayed response.
The puppy cakes were just lean beef mince with grated broccoli and an egg to bind them, popped into cupcake moulds and baked in the oven for 15mins (make sure the meatball is no bigger than golfball size as the juice will overflow from the cupcake mould). Once cooked allow the mince juice to set or drain it off into the topping.
The topping is mashed sweet potato with some food colouring to make it caramel colour (a bit of yellow and blue) piped on. The eyes are black marzipan and the tongue a little pink marshmallow - not usual puppy food but not enough to be troublesome ☺️.
I’ll see if I can send you a video of Murph using his birthday gift…an automatic ball launcher 🤣. He LOVES it, and started using it correctly within 5mins of receiving it - he’s a clever boy (mostly?!?!) and it probably helped that we’d already taught him to clean up his toys (ie put them back in his toy basket) so he already understood the concept of putting a ball into something…it’s hilarious and so clever 🥰
Cheers
Julie
Happy Howl-O-Ween
Dog Wizard Sonny Potter - thank you Andrea for your lovely photo.
Jack
Hi
I just wanted to touch base with you
Jack has grown into a beautiful pup. He is just over 4 months, he is over 10kg. He had his first groom trial to get used to the groomer. He is fully vaccinated , wormed and tick treated.
He has spent lots of time at the dog park and beach this summer with our family. He took to sleeping outside with our other dog and was fully toilet trained by about 3 1/2 months.
He is so gentle and placid. He spend a lot of time flopping around on the floor chilling out by our feet.
He is not barking at all and is very patient if we are at the cage or in a shop, happy to lie down out side. I’m thoroughly enjoying him as our beagle was a lot more crazy when he was younger.
He has a healthy appetite but not greedy, he isn’t shedding at all and has the most beautiful coat.
Even the vet said we have struck gold with Jack she is completely smitten.
I can’t thank you enough.
-Sally
REMI
Hi Sonia and Ciderfields Team,
I just wanted to send through an update on our beautiful Remi who has turned 1 year old today. She is the pink collared pup from Paddington.
Remi is the most amazing family dog. She is the most loving, cuddly, beautifully natured girl. She is so good with all dogs and children of any size and is also very good at reading another dogs body language and matches her play style and interaction to theirs.
She is very smart and very easy to train, non-reactive to dogs and sounds which is fantastic as she also likes to come away on holidays with us in our caravan.
We could not have asked for a better addition to our family. She is very very loved by us and everyone who meets her.
Thank you for breeding such great quality companions.
Kind Regards,
Jess
Jolly
Well, we've had our Cider Fields Labradoodle Jolly for three months now and we couldn't be more delighted. She is the most joyful, personable, loving little girl, with a huge personality, and lots of energy and some hilarious behaviours.
Balto, Jolly’s German Shepherd big brother, is also a very special 6yo in that he is very gentle and loving. But he had an accident a year ago and herniated two discs. Surgery and ongoing physiotherapy have returned his life to near normal, except that his rear end isn't very strong. He feels vulnerable and has now become very reactive to other dogs. He "reacted" to Jolly when she arrived, but within minutes they were checking each other out. Jolly was intimidated, but had her crate to retreat to, and the very next day they had their first tentative play together.
She settled in quickly, and she takes no rubbish from him. He's 36kg, and occasionally he accidentally steps on her foot, but she lets him know in no uncertain way that he needs to get off. She’s very feisty, no longer intimidated by him. Watching them play is an endless source of fun for us. Balto knows instinctively that she's only a pup, and small, and needs care. Until Jolly came he was very depressed, knowing somehow he wasn't quite right, being unable to do all the things he once could. Having his little mate has turned his life around.
Jolly learns very quickly. Sit/stay/come are almost instant now. Off lead walks (when possible) are no problem. She loves to explore, but never takes her eyes off us for long, and recall is brilliant. She socialises well with other dogs, and loves to play with any she comes across on the beach. Of course we're very careful about what dogs we allow her to approach. But the instant we call her, she comes. Fantastic.
I think what we love most is her nature. The love she exudes is palpable, and she adores cuddles. We are dogs-on-furniture people, and she quickly learned that the top of the couch is the best place to be so she can see us and what's going on outside simultaneously. Then when we sit beside her she snuggles up, puts her head on our laps, or climbs on our shoulders and wraps herself around our necks. I know, this is not for everyone, but we just love it and have encouraged it.
Cosmo
Cosmo has grown into such a wonderful natured boy.
He is caring, cuddly, funny, very cheeky, always making us laugh, loves his pack, ball obsessed, social with other dogs and so much more.
We absolutely love him.
We have a wonderful groomer who happens to live across the road. She loves him and keeps him looking handsome as ever.
For the occasional times he can’t be with us we have an amazing pet carer. The family treat him like their own and spoil him rotten.
However we are lucky in Tas as we have many dog friendly places and we aim to bring him with us on most adventures. We miss him to much if we don’t.
Thanks again for our beautiful boy.